Recently I’ve been working on establishing a solid nighttime routine to ensure I get the best night’s sleep possible while I can before our baby arrives. I want to make sure I’m as comfortable as possible during my pregnancy, a goal I plan to carry on after baby as part of my self-care routine. I find that this bedtime routine has been working well so far and helps me wind down after some busy days lately. First I’m sharing my nighttime essentials, followed by the evening routine I’ve been loving. If you, too, have an established end-of-day routine please share it with me in the comments!
My nighttime essentials and bedtime routine:
- Belly butter
- Castor oil
- Lip balm
- Lip scrub
- Body lotion
- Water bottle
- Diffuser
- Cleanser and facial spray
- Denture cleaner tablets (for my Invisalign)
- Yoga mat
- Bath bombs/bubble bath
- Face masks
- Massager
- On my wish list: a pregnancy pillow
My get-ready-for-bed routine:
My nighttime essentials help me regain my clarity, balance and overall sense of well-being at the end of the day. I use them in my bedtime routine, which varies in terms of order, but in general consists of:
I often soak in the tub while listening to a self-improvement book on Audible. Lately it’s been “You Do You” by Sarah Knight. If I’m not taking a bath/soak, I like to shower after any sort of workout (or just because) while playing a book.
I then put on comfortable pajamas and apply my belly butter and lotion. I want to start using castor oil again for specific areas (cyst, stretch marks, eyelashes).
I take off my contacts and start wearing my glasses.
I take out my Invisalign and drop a denture cleaner tablet into warm water. I soak them for about 30 minutes before bed. I also brush my teeth and floss.
I wash my face and use my skin care products. Sometimes I use a face mask.
I use lip scrub and lip balm.
I fill my water bottle/glass and place it next to the bed.
I often take a look at my planner and see what I have going on in the morning. This helps me mentally prepare to get out of bed on time on days when it’s absolutely crucial and it lets me know when I can sneak in some extra Z’s. I don’t find this to be absolutely essential, though.
I write in a journal (or two). I am still experimenting to find what works for me. One journal is a gift I want to give; the other is a sort-of bullet journal that I am figuring out how to use. In recent months I jotted down a daily gratitude but I stopped during the holidays. I know for sure I want a brain dump page for all my ideas and random thoughts, but the rest of my journal spreads are up in the air at the moment.
A goal this year is to also do some yoga poses before bed every night (if I didn’t already go to a class). I don’t always do this, but I also want to get back into using a meditation app or doing it on my own, perhaps after listening to my book. Lately I’ve been using our neck and shoulder massager on my lower back and neck if not already stretching or doing yoga.
Lastly, I add oils to my diffuser and turn it on.
Goodnight!
Why is a nighttime routine important to me?
I haven’t always followed a routine before bed, but I have found that an established nighttime ritual has helped me wind down, decompress and prepare for the next day. Relaxing has helped me achieve better quality sleep, which is important since I don’t always get the quantity of sleep I’d like, and that quantity is only going to go down when our baby girl is born. I’ve learned that a solid night routine is the basis for a productive and more zen morning as well. Do you agree?
What does your nighttime routine look like? What are your essentials?
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